The Textualization of Mark’s Gospel
Chapter 3 addresses the initial textualization of the Jesus tradition in Mark’s Gospel. It argues against starting with Q and other hypothetical sources. Its main focus, however, is upon the pioneering work of Werner Kelber on this topic. Contrary to Kelber’s “oral-preference perspective,” the chapter argues for seeing the introduction of the manuscript medium as a continuation and heightening of tradition processes that were already underway. He does so on the basis of Jan Assmann’s theory of the zerdehnte Situation (“extended situation”). The main argument is that the textualization of the Gospel of Mark should be seen as a commencement rather than a cessation. The chapter closes with a consideration of patristic testimony about the writing of Mark’s Gospel on this basis.